Undergraduate and Graduate students who have not yet presented at a major theatre conference are invited to submit papers for the Emerging Scholars Symposium, two debut panels of the Mid-America Theatre Conference. Papers for the two panels are welcome on any topic in theatre history, theory, or dramatic literature.

Up to three participants will be selected for each panel, and each panelist will have fifteen minutes to deliver his or her paper. Students whose papers are accepted will receive free conference registration, free admission to the conference luncheon, a one-year membership in MATC, and a cash prize of $50. Undergraduate winners will also be paired with a conference mentor.

Papers should be 7-10 pages in length (1750-2500 words), and will be evaluated on their originality, the quality of their writing and research, and their critical/theoretical sophistication. Submissions MUST be received by 15 OCTOBER 2009. Please include the name of your academic institution, mail and email address, telephone number, and a brief bio, and specify whether you are submitting to the Undergraduate or Graduate Debut Panel.

The Mid-America Theatre Conference is held every March at a mid-western city (e.g. Chicago, Minneapolis, Omaha, St. Louis, Kansas City), with symposia in Theatre History, Directing, Pedagogy, and Playwriting. Graduate students are welcome to submit proposals either to these forums or to the Emerging Scholars Symposium. All proposals are refereed. Because of its small size, MATC serves as an ideal setting for graduate and undergraduate students to begin to share their work with and get feedback from established scholars. Membership in MATC also includes a subscription to Theatre History Studies, a leading journal in the field.